For the modern sports fan the word ‘rebuild’ brings mixed emotions. Immediately thoughts of finishing last, cutting ties with veteran fan favourites and ‘cheering’ for a high draft pick instead of a playoff birth come to mind. Heading into the 2015 season, Chicago Bears fans are split; some say the team is destined for a playoff birth due to the offseason overhaul and the hiring of a head coach and coordinators with proven track records. While others are expecting a season worthy of a top 3 pick in next year's draft, due to the early season injury bug as well as the lack of talent on defence. While fans struggle to figure out exactly what Chicago will be in 2015, it's important to take a look at some blueprints used by NFL teams faced with the task of retooling to achieve future success.
‘More Money, More Problems’
No better example comes to mind than the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles. Coming off the NFL lockout, the Eagles took their shot at a quick team rebuild, throwing money at high profile free agents such as Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins, to name a few. Much to the delight of many NFL fans, this plan blew up in the team's face, and caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Other teams that fall under this category are the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders; three teams who typically come in well under the cap, and try to speed up rebuilds by throwing money at higher profile, aging free agents. It should be noted that there is are positive signs the Raiders are bucking this trend and moving to a more draft focused approach. The fact remains, since 2010 these three teams have an average ranking of 25th in the league and one playoff appearance between them, is proof that money can’t fix everything in the NFL.
‘Draft Day Saviour’
Many teams who find themselves in a franchise rebuild bank on the idea that one special player whose name they call on draft day, will come in and save their entire organization. The most common blueprint used by general managers when rebuilding, often times it involves teams ‘reaching’ for a player early in the draft, or worse, dealing high draft picks in an attempt to move up and select their saviour. This plan can either lead to instant success or a major franchise setback. In the best case scenario for this strategy the 2011 Indianapolis Colts lead the way. Their dismal 2011 season led to the drafting of Andrew Luck, the prototypical franchise ‘saviour’ all rebuilding teams aspire to draft. An honourable mention goes to the Minnesota Vikings who selected Teddy Bridgewater in last years draft. Bridgewater has been a perfect great fit for Vikings, and has shown flashes of franchise QB potential. Unfortunately for GMs, players like Andrew Luck don’t come around every draft day. At the other end of this strategy, we have a number of cases where this strategy doesn't pan out. The most notable failure when a general manager reached on a QB came back in 1998, when Ryan Leaf was selected 2nd overall by the San Diego Chargers. The Colts dodged a real bullet as they chose Peyton Manning 1st overall, after Leaf made his strong dislike of Indianapolis public. Leaf would be out of the league by 2002. In recent memory, the Jacksonville Jaguars set themselves back a few years when they reached on picking Blaine Gabbert in the first round of the 2011 draft. Fans sat through two and a half painful seasons with the former Missouri QB at the helm. The sudden fall of Robert Griffin III in Washington has provided a perfect example of how hedging all your bets and giving up a ton of future draft picks, for a single player can dramatically backfire. The RGIII saga has set the franchise back a few years, and left Redskins fans frustrated, with any thoughts of post season play even further away, while the St. Louis Rams have (almost) entirely rebuilt their defence as a result of the trade. With many cases against this style of rebuild, it will be interesting to see how recent ‘saviour’ picks Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay) and Marcus Mariota (Tennessee) fair in the NFL.
‘Slow and Steady’
On one end of the spectrum you have teams who try and rebuild rapidly, either through spending money on free agents or attempting to retool through a single year's draft class. Two NFC North teams come to mind with this approach. Firstly, the Green Bay Packers created the mould for building through the draft (as credited by Bears GM Ryan Pace), never making big free agent splashes and trying to build from within. Its no coincidence, the second team noted for using this strategy also calls the NFC North home. In a rebuild that ultimately began in 2007 with the drafting of Calvin Johnson, the Lions would steadily build a core group of players through the draft (Stafford ’09, Suh ’10, Fairley ’11 etc.) which has led them from NFC North basement, to a yearly contender for the division title in the past two seasons. Heading into 2015 only time will tell if the Lions have damaged their successful rebuilding tactic by choosing to make a ‘big splash’ trade with Baltimore for defensive lineman Hoaloti Ngata, in favour of retaining ‘home grown’ talents Ndamokung Suh (Miami) and Nick Fairley (St. Louis). An honourable mention in this category goes to the St. Louis Rams. One could argue the Rams have been building a powerhouse defence since the 2008 draft when they selected Chris Long in the first round. In the following years St. Louis would continue a defence first draft approach making notable selections each year; Robert Quinn (’10) Michael Brockers (’11), Janoris Jenkins (’11), Alec Ogeltree (12’) and Aaron Donald (13’). With the addition of Nick Fairley the 2015 Rams defence could be atop the NFL by season's end. However, where the team ends up in the standings remains a question, as there are many holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball.
There is more than one way NFL teams can approach a retooling, these are only a few of them. Each has examples of failure and success. Could the Bears follow in the footsteps of their divisional rivals to once again become a contender.
Having not seen playoff football since the 2010 NFC conference championship, Bears fans have been wanting the team to establish a direction. With the 2015 offseason bringing front office changes, a revamped coaching staff and an organizational desire to return to traditional Bears football, a retooling in Chicago is necessary. There will be tough times ahead, however the right people are in place, laying the ground work for an eventual return of the Monsters of the Midway.
It's your turn Bears fans; what is your take on the current state of the franchise? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below…BearDown.
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Photos sourced from: http://eatdrnkslpsprtz.com/2013/03/11/nfl-free-agency-its-how-you-spend-not-how-much-you-spend-that-makes-the-difference, http://www.fantasyfootballchick.com/video-robert-griffin-iii-helps-student-with-touching-prom-proposal-sportsnaut-com/, http://fameology.net/2013/02/26/walter-payton-chicagos-enduring-football-legend/
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